Beta Disk Interface

Beta Disk Interface is a disk interface for ZX Spectrum computers, developed by Technology Research Ltd. (United Kingdom) in 1984^[1] and released in 1985, with a price of £109.25 (or £249.75 with one disk drive).^[2]

Beta 128 Disk Interface is a 1987^[3] version, supporting ZX Spectrum 128 machines (due to different access point addresses).

Beta Disk Interfaces were distributed with the TR-DOS operating system in ROM, also attributed to Technology Research Ltd.. The interface was based on the WD1793 chip.^[4] Latest firmware version is 5.03 (1986).

The Beta Disk Interface handles single- and double-sided, 40- or 80-track double-density floppy disks, and up to four drives.

Clones

This interface was popular for its simplicity, and the Beta 128 Disk Interface was cloned all around the USSR. The first known USSR clones were ones produced by НПВО "Вариант" (NPVO "Variant", Leningrad) in 1989.^[5]

Beta 128 schematics are included in various Soviet/Russian ZX Spectrum clones, but some variants only support two drives. Phase correction of the drive data signal is also implemented differently.^[6]^[7]

Between 2018 and 2021, Beta Disk clones were produced in the Czech Republic, with the names such as Beta Disk 128C, 128X and 128 mini.^{[citation needed]}

Operating systems support

TR-DOS
iS-DOS
CP/M (various hack versions)
DNA OS

References

^ Sinclair User March 84, p. 34
^ Sinclair User Jan 85, p. 73
^ Sinclair User Jan 87
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-04-09. Retrieved 2013-12-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ Sinclair ZX Spectrum. Beta Disc / TR-DOS. Аппаратные средства. Стандартный интерфейс дисковода. - С.-Петербург, 1994
^ Рюмик С. Контроллер дисководов. Канал записи / Радиолюбитель. Ваш компьютер, 1998, NN10-12; 1999, N1
^ Рюмик С. Контроллер дисководов. Канал чтения / Радиолюбитель. Ваш компьютер, 1999, N4-8

External links

Virtual TR-DOS

[1] Sinclair User March 84, p. 34

[2] Sinclair User Jan 85, p. 73

[3] Sinclair User Jan 87

[4] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-04-09. Retrieved 2013-12-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[5] Sinclair ZX Spectrum. Beta Disc / TR-DOS. Аппаратные средства. Стандартный интерфейс дисковода. - С.-Петербург, 1994

[6] Рюмик С. Контроллер дисководов. Канал записи / Радиолюбитель. Ваш компьютер, 1998, NN10-12; 1999, N1

[7] Рюмик С. Контроллер дисководов. Канал чтения / Радиолюбитель. Ваш компьютер, 1999, N4-8

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v t e Sinclair computers, derivatives, and clones
Sinclair Research / Science of Cambridge	MK14 ZX80 ZX81 ZX Spectrum (ZX Spectrum+, ZX Spectrum 128) QL
Amstrad	ZX Spectrum +2 ZX Spectrum +3
Licenced systems	ZX Spectrum Vega ZX Spectrum Vega+
Timex Corporation	T/S 1000 T/S 1500 T/S 2068 (TC 2068) TC 2048 TC 3256
Cambridge Computer	Z88
Lists of clones	ZX80/81 clones ZX Spectrum clones QL clones
Compatible or related systems	ZX80 based: MicroAce, TK80, NE-Z80 ZX81 based: Apply 300, AS-1000, Lambda 8300, CP-200, CZ 2000, CZ 1000, CZ 1500, CZ 1000 Plus, CZ 1500 Plus, CZ Spectrum, NE-Z8000, Ringo R-470, TK82C, TK83, TK85 ZX Spectrum based: ATM, Pentagon, CZ Spectrum Plus, Didaktik, Dubna 48K, Hobbit,Scorpion ZS-256, Sprinter, Kay 1024, Komputer 2086, TK90X, TK95, Robik, ZX Spectrum Next QL based: CST Thor, One Per Desk, Q40/Q60 Other: SAM Coupé, Jupiter Ace
Sinclair Research peripherals	ZX Printer ZX Interface 1 ZX Interface 2 ZX Microdrive
Timex peripherals	TS2040 Printer Neptun 156 Monitor TS2050 Modem FDD Disk Drive FDD3000 Disk Drive
Other peripherals	Beta Disk Interface DISCiPLE MB02 Rotronics Wafadrive Multiface Kempston Currah SpecDrum RAM Music Machine Stack Light Rifle Magnum Light Phaser
People	Clive Sinclair John Pemberton Rick Dickinson Richard Altwasser Steve Vickers

Clones

Operating systems support

See also

References

External links